Acu-TENS to Improve the Sleep Quality in People with Stroke

A dual-channel TENS stimulator will be used (ECS300A; Neurotrac, Verity Medical LTD, Ireland). Electrodes will be placed over selected acupoints (i.e., bilateral Sanyinjiao (SP6), Neiguan (PC6), Shenmen (HT7), Hegu (LI4), Zusanli (ST36) and Quchi (LI11)) and connected to the TENS stimulator. These acupoints are selected according to the traditional Chinese medicine and results of previous studies. The stimulation will be lasted 30-min for each session. The frequency of the stimulation parameter's waveform will be set to 100 Hz and the square pulses will be set to 0.2-ms. The intensity of the stimulation will be below motor threshold and lower than the intolerable level, and hence, participants will feel a pleasant and mild aching sensation.

A dual-channel TENS stimulator will be used (ITO Physiotherapy \& Rehabilitation, Co, Ltd, Tokyo, Japan). Electrodes will be placed over selected acupoints (i.e., bilateral Sanyinjiao (SP6), Neiguan (PC6), Shenmen (HT7), Hegu (LI4), Zusanli (ST36) and Quchi (LI11)) and connected to the TENS stimulator. These acupoints are selected according to the traditional Chinese medicine and results of previous studies. The stimulation will be lasted 30-min for each session. The frequency of the stimulation parameter's waveform will be set to 100 Hz and the square pulses will be set to 0.2-ms. The intensity of the stimulation will be below motor threshold and lower than the intolerable level, and hence, participants will feel a pleasant and mild aching sensation.

SHP is a set of instructions designed to help with sleep and promote healthy sleeping habits. The sleep guide contains information on how much sleep is needed by every individual daily, factors that could affect sleep, and risk factors for sleep disorders. It also contains information on the types of sleep disorders, delayed sleep syndrome, insomnia-producing behavior that could affect sleep quality, and suggestions for inducing sleep. The participants will be instructed to read the guide after the baseline assessment (T0). Those instructions will be reinforced by the research practitioner after each treatment session, in order to maintain the healthy sleeping habits.